[nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit

Fri Jan 23 13:22:59 UTC 2009

Dear All,
    the problem that arises when one is asked about whether a service animal 
will be accompanying a person is the potential for discrimination. This may 
not occur with paratransit, however, it could happen with private 
transportation services. For instance, if a taxi company flags someone in 
their system and, when that person calls for a ride is asked the same 
question, it could result in an unequal treatment. Should the dispatcher 
place a call for a pick-up in what is known as a "bid" system in which the 
call is placed and drivers respond that they are willing to take the fare, 
as is true here in Tampa, we could wait an inordinate amount of time for a 
ride. If the dispatcher says, "I have a fare with a dog in zone 50." and 
drivers are not willing to take my dog, they will not bid on that fare and I 
am being discriminated against because of my choice to use a guide dog.
    Another instance is with the airlines. If you tell them in advance that 
you will be accompanied by a service animal, any of the personnel who have 
access to your information will see that and make certain assumptions "in 
your best interest"! For instance, they will automatically assume you want 
to sit in the bulkhead (or not), that you will want to pre-board, will need 
certain assistance, etc. Frequently airline personnel will insist that you 
accept such accomodation, whether or not you want them and, when you decline 
them, insist it is "Federal regulation", which it is not. In fact, Federal 
regulations say we have the right to refuse any accommodation. HTH!

Fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margo and Elmo" <margo.downey at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:41 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit


> Charlene, I just spoke with a couple of folks in the know about these 
> things.
>
> Generally speaking, they are not doing anything illegal by asking you to 
> mention that your guide dog is accompanying you on each trip.  Now, it was 
> suggested to me that perhaps it might be possible that the paratransit 
> service might be using an outdated software program on their computers. 
> it was further suggested that they look at a software called Trapeze which 
> is extremely accurate--not perfect but accurate.  For example, our 
> paratransis sytem which is a very good and reliable system uses Trapeze. 
> On the application I filled out, I checked that I have a guide dog.  that 
> info went into my records on this software and that fact automatically 
> goes into my trip when I make a paratransit reservation.  the reason they 
> like to know these things is to ensure comfortable space for the dog. 
> They also know about scooters, wheelchairs, PCA's and such to ensure space 
> on the van.
>
> hope this helps.
>
> margo and Elmo
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Charlene Ota" <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:27 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit
>
>
>> Several of us in Hawaii are having a problem with guide dogs on 
>> paratransit.
>> We've all notified the company and validated that the fact that we have
>> guide dogs is in our records and the reservationists see this at the time 
>> we
>> make reservations.  However, even so, we're having a problem if we make a
>> reservation when we are picked up we are at times given a hard time about
>> because we didn't tell the reservationists that we have a service dog. 
>> The
>> other day I was almost put out of a cab from one of the companies that
>> paratransit contracts with. When I pointed out to the reservationists 
>> that
>> it is in my record that I have a guide dog so why do I have to tell you
>> every time that I take him she kept arguing that it's assumed that if you
>> don't mention that you're taking the dog then you're not taking the dog. 
>> She
>> compared it to having a PCA. I tried to tell them that it's actually the
>> norm for me to have my guide dog with me, but this didn't matter to her.
>>
>> So, my question is, can we be put off of paratransit if we don't
>> specifically mention our dog every time we make a reservation? Is a 
>> service
>> dog or guide dog comparable to a PCA? Personally, I think this is going 
>> too
>> far and it is verging on discrimination.  Also, one final question, are 
>> our
>> HIPA rights violated when our information is discussed over the air of 
>> the
>> radio or cell phone with the drivers?  To me, paratransit is public
>> transportation and I don't feel they have the right to do some of these
>> things. But, I need the Federal regs to do much about the situation.
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Charlene
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>
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